Knowledge Hub
General
Is Dubai/UAE truly tax-free?
What is the minimum investment required to start a company in Dubai?
What is the process of setting up a business in UAE?
In the United Arab Emirates, there are three common phases to obtaining a license in UAE.
- Name Selection – you are required to select a name for your company to read more about the name https://inchub.com/how-to-select-a-company-name/
- Initial approval occurs when an individual or a firm submits an application for approval of the business’s operations.
- Registration & Visa: Once the registrar has given their approval for the submitted documents and business plan, a trade license will be granted. This process can also be referred to as the completion of the incorporation process, assuming that all the necessary third-party government approvals are been taken care, & following which the residence visa for the shareholder/authorized signatory, have been obtained.
- Bank Account & Business Commencement: Obtaining a business bank account marks the final stage of the entire process. Once this step is completed, you are free to initiate invoicing and handle the sending and receiving of funds as and when required.
What is the UAE’s culture and lifestyle like?
What are the visa requirements for investors and employees when starting a business in the United Arab Emirates?
How long does it take to establish a business in the United Arab Emirates?
Is it necessary to get my documents certified in order to start a Branch or Subsidiary of my business in the UAE?
What are the advantages of forming a business in Dubai?
What type of legal framework does Dubai have in place for starting a business?
What type of physical infrastructure do international investors have access to?
In Dubai, what type of labour is available? Is it possible for me to recruit people from my own nation to work for my company?
What type of support and marketing does the Dubai government provide?
Is Dubai an Open Trading Hub?
Onshore Company
What is the definition of an onshore company? What is the main purpose of it?
Who is the Ultimate Beneficial Owner?
A UBO is an individual who owns or controls the entity in the long run, or on whose behalf a transaction or activity occurs.
A UBO is any individual who:
- owns or controls 25% or more of the company’s shares or voting rights;
- ultimately owns or controls 25% or more of the company’s shares or voting rights, whether directly or indirectly;
- has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors, whether directly or indirectly;
- has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, significant influence or control over the corporate body;
- has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, significant influence or control over the corporate
- is in charge of the corporate entity.
- If a nominee has shares or rights, the UBO is the person for whom the candidate is acting. If the nominee is operating on behalf of a legal entity, the UBO will be the person who exercises control over that entity.
- absolute authority over the legal entity
- In the case of a partnership, a UBO is defined as any individual who owns 25% or more of the partnership’s capital or who is eventually entitled to own 25% or more of the partnership’s voting rights.
A UBO for a trust consists of the settlor, trustees, beneficiaries, and anybody who has power over the trust.
Is the company’s beneficiary the true owner?
What are the advantages of onshore businesses?
The following are some of the noteworthy advantages of onshore businesses
- Operating expenses are better regulated and minimized, and the company’s strategic imperatives are more focused.
- A better deployment of the company’s internal resources results in higher value.
- It is possible to have a better grasp of internal resources and key capabilities.
- With this global perspective, world-class skills and capabilities may be accessible, as well as a comprehensive understanding of internal resource limitations.
- Difficult difficulties and complexity are more effectively addressed.
- An onshore company offers the best circumstances for effectively running a business both in and outside of the nation; business transformation activities are hastened to optimize the business process; and residency visas are simpler to get because of an onshore firm.
What are the advantages of being a resident for onshore business owners?
What is withholding tax? Does it Apply to the UAE?
What is the dividend?
What should you do with an onshore firm if you no longer require it?
What are onshore companies’ hidden costs?
What is the procedure for liquidating, winding up, or closing an onshore firm in order to get rid of it?
Can my company shift from one location to another?
Is it possible to convert an offshore corporation to an onshore firm or the other way around?
Offshore Company
What is an offshore company?
What are the major benefits of forming an offshore company?
What distinguishes offshore corporations from other businesses?
Despite the fact that all offshore firms are unique in their nature and are governed by the corporate laws of their respective countries, they all have the following characteristics:
They are not subject to taxation in their home country, but that does not imply they are tax-free elsewhere. Regulation of business operations is more stringent in developed countries, whereas it is less stringent in developing countries.
What are the benefits of using an offshore company?
Is there a requirement for physical offices for an offshore company?
What are the activities that an offshore firm is allowed to engage in?
What is an offshore company’s minimum capital requirement?
What is the definition of a private joint stock company?
What is a Joint Venture Company?
What is the difference between joint stock company and joint venture?
What is SPV?
Mainland Company
What is DED?
How many Activities are allowed for DED Mainland License?
For General Trading – Stand-Alone License can sell anything and everything
For Professional – 10 Max from same group of activities;
Industrial depending on Approvals 1 MAX
Are there limitations in the activities for DED?
What is the Shareholding Percentage given in DED?
Corporate Tax
Why is the UAE introducing Corporate Tax?
Will UAE Corporate Tax be applicable to businesses in all Emirates?
Who is subject to UAE Corporate Tax?
- AE Corporate Tax applies to juridical persons incorporated in the UAE and to foreign juridical persons that are effectively managed and controlled in the UAE
- Natural persons will be subject to Corporate Tax only if they are engaged in a Business or Business Activity in the UAE, either directly or through an Unincorporated Partnership or sole proprietorship
When is the UAE Corporate Tax regime effective?
What is a Tax Period?
What are the UAE Corporate Tax rates?
375,000-9%
What is Taxable Income?
Will I have to pay UAE Corporate Tax alongside VAT in the UAE?
How are UAE Resident Persons subject to UAE Corporate Tax?
Income from that is exempt from Corporate Tax
Are foreign juridical persons subject to UAE Corporate Tax in the same way as a UAE Resident Person
How do I know if I have a Permanent Establishment in the UAE?
- It has a fixed or permanent place in the UAE through which the business of the foreign person is carried on; or
- There is a Person who has and habitually exercises an authority to conduct business in the UAE on behalf of the foreign juridical person
Will the investment in UAE real estate be subject to UAE Corporate Tax
Real Estate company which are subject to Corporate tax
What determines whether income is sourced from the UAE
- the income is derived from a UAE resident;
- the income derived is attributed to a Permanent Establishment in the UAE of a non-UAE resident; or
- the income is derived from activities performed, assets located, capital invested, rights used or services performed or benefited from in the UAE.
Accounting
What is Accounting & Bookkeeping?
Why Accounting is Important for my Business that is having transactions outside UAE?
Accounting will enable you to make proper and defined decision
- It will ensure you adhere to statutory compliance
- It will provide adequate information to you with regards your business.
- It will enable you to asses or evaluate the performance of your business
Why do I need a qualified Accountant?
Accounting will enable you to make proper and defined decision
- It will ensure you adhere to statutory compliance
- It will provide adequate information to you with regards your business.
- It will enable you to asses or evaluate the performance of your business
I have an accounting software that is free of charges can I use it instead?
My friend is an accountant, can I take his services for all my company accounting?
Is it a must for all businesses in UAE to have an accountant or to maintain the accounting books as per accounting standards?
What is the Role of an Accountant?
What is Cost of Good Sold?
What is working capital?
How to maintain accounting accuracy?
- You need to identify revenue streams to maintain accounting accuracy
- You need to keep a track of invoices and receipts
- Preparing tax returns is a good way to avoid penalties
- You should always keep an eye on the deductible expenses
What are the common mistakes that people make in accounting?
- Mixing a personal account with the professional account of the company is the most common mistake that people make in accounting.
- Lack of communication between the accountant and the company is another common mistake made by people
- Not having a backup, misallocating resources are some of the mistakes that should be avoided in accounting.
- Performing manual accounting should be avoided
- Some people don’t keep the accounting books up to date which is a mistake that should be avoided.
Which is better cash basis accounting or accrual accounting?
- Cash Basis Accounting: cash basis accounting, you will have to record transactions only when you physically make or receive any payment.
- Accrual Accounting: accrual accounting, you will have to record every transaction that takes place, even when you don’t receive or pay money physically. Accrual is useful if provide credit to customers.
What is the basic accounting equation?
- Accounting is related to assets, liabilities, and capital
Assets = Liabilities + Owners Equity
What is Accounts payable?
What is Accounts receivable?
Material needed for proper and adequate recording of account.?
What are the Different Types of Accounting?
- Financial accounting: Report based on business transactions
- Administrative accounting: Focus on the Administrative aspect
- Tax accounting: Relate to preparing and filing tax report
- Cost accounting: Doing detail analysis of unit cost of production and sales
- Management accounting: Focus on business operations.
Value Added Tax
What is VAT
Who can or will be able to register for VAT
- A business must register for VAT if its taxable supplies and imports exceed the mandatory registration threshold of AED 375,000
- Furthermore, a business may choose to register for VAT voluntarily if its supplies and imports are less than the mandatory registration threshold, but exceed the voluntary registration threshold of AED 187,500
- Similarly, a business may register voluntarily if its expenses exceed the voluntary registration threshold. This latter opportunity to register voluntarily is designed to enable start-up businesses with no turnover to register for VAT.
What is the standard rate of VAT in the UAE?
How to determine vat value on an invoice which was issued at the gross amount inclusive of vat.?
What is the filing requirement for vat tax returns for registered person?
What is penalty for failing to file your vat return on the due date?
What is the due date for filing vat return?
- Exports of goods and services to outside the GCC.
- International and intra-GCC transport
- Supplies for certain sea, air, and land means of transportation (such as aircraft and ships).
- Supply of precious metals for investment (gold, silver, and platinum)
- Newly constructed residential properties that are supplied for the first time within three years of their construction.
- Supply of certain educational services and relevant goods and services.
- Supply of certain healthcare services and associated goods and services.
- Certain eatables (a standard list will be ratified across the GCC by the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee)
- The oil sector and the oil and gas derivatives sector (at the discretion of each member state)Additionally, each member state can zero rate or VAT-exempt:
- The educational sector
- The medical sector
- The real estate sector on residential building
- The local transport sector